Rubrics
Overview
A rubric is a tool that communicates expectations for success for students and can include symbols or charts that are easy for young students to understand. They can be teacher-created, co-created with students, or found pre-existing, and can be used across different points of learning. Rubrics can help students learn self-monitoring and self-assessment skills in learning, improve self-efficacy, and encourage supportive peer feedback, all of which can contribute to their Learner Mindset. By using rubrics, teachers can offer constructive feedback, foster a growth mindset, and empower students to take ownership of their learning and strive for improvement.
While rubrics can contain points for scoring and can help teachers to modify their instruction and support equitable grading, their greatest impact may be when used as a learning tool for student self and peer assessment, which does not have to be linked to a grade. Though there is limited research on very young learners' use of rubrics, initial research suggests that rubrics can help young students monitor their own learning and develop Metacognition. For younger learners, using rubrics over a longer period of time may lead to the greatest benefits for their learning. They can be useful across domains, with research suggesting improved self-efficacy in writing and in supporting and assessing skills core to STEAM such as Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity.
Example: Use This Strategy in the Classroom
Watch how one teacher uses a rubric to help young students evaluate their own writing.
Design It into Your Product
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Metacognitive Supports Strategies
Creating a culture of error means creating an environment in which errors are valued and encouraged as a necessary part of the learning process, which can help learners to view errors and learning more positively.
Feedback is the process of providing learners with information about their learning to support their progress and improvement, which can come from a range of sources, including teachers and peers.
Goal-setting and monitoring involves teachers working with students to set individualized academic or behavioral goals, plan actions to achieve those goals, and track progress.
When students are able to encourage themselves through kind and motivating self-statements, they are practicing positive self-talk.
